Clam-opener



y 935- v. R. HALLOCK 2,000,075

CLAM OPENER Original Filed Nov. 8, 1930 gwwxntoc,

' 7R HaZZock Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Renewed Au 2 Claims.

This invention relates to clam openers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved form of knife for wedging the clam-shells apart while cutting the hinge that binds them together.

Another object is to provide a simple but very effective and improved pivot-post-fastening, or means to fasten the knifes pivot post to the base or base-plate.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved clam opener, the base being partly in vertical section to disclose the fastening means and the groove which constitutes the clam-seat and a clam in the clam seat.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, in which similar reference numerals refer to similar parts in both views, the invention is now described in detail as follows.

The base 5 is preferably of impervioushardwood, and has a groove or cavity 6 which constitutes the seat in which a clam may be seated and held while being opened by being cut and wedged apart by the knife I which is apertured at 8 to provide a pivotbearing for the pivot or bolt 9. This bolt also passes through apertures ID in a pivot-post H slotted at l2 to receive the apertured end of the knife 1. The bolt 9 is provided with a nut l3 to combine with it and with the jaws of the pivotpost for fitting against the sides of the knife so closely as to prevent lateralmovement of the knife.

The lower end of the pivot-bolt is screw-threaded a considerable distance upward, and two nuts l4 and I5 are threaded thereon. Washers are preferably (but not essentially) between these nuts and the base-plate 5 which has a cavity IS in its under side to receive the lower nut I5 so it will not interfere with seating the base flat on a table or other surface. By tightening the nuts on the base 5, the pivot-post is held very rigidly in its position for keeping the knife 1 directly over the center of the groove 6, so it is always in cooperative relation to the clam-seat when raised far enough to permit the clams to be placed under the knife with the cutting edge ll on or over the hinge of a clam.

The cutting edge is formed with its greatest curve or bulge over the part of the clam-seat wherein the clam hinge rests while being cut through, that is, at the curved end of the clamgust 28, 1933 seat towards the pivot of the knife; so the knife starts to enter the clam-hinge at a mere theoretical point and cuts with far less pressure than if the cutting edge were straight; and besides, the maximum leverage is applied in consequence 5 of the bulged part meeting the clam-hinge at a point relatively near the pivot and distant from the handle. The bulge of the cutting edge also enables it to go to the bottom of the clam-seat so as to cut entirely through the clam-hinge. 10 Said cutting edge is the apex of a relatively steep wedge-portion I8 which wedges the clam-shells apart while the bulged edge cuts through the hinge. The longitudinal curvature of the clamseat and of the cutting edge is substantially the same at the point next to the pivot-post and through the'space where the clam-hinge is seated while being severed; so by this combination, the complete severing of the clam-hinge is assured.

The handle 19 may be of the kind shown or any 0 suitable kind, and is disposed at such angle to the cutting part of the blade that it is spaced a considerable distance from the base when the blade is at its lowest point, thus providing a device that is easily operated without danger of pinching the fingers of the user.

The base 5 extends to a point substantially under the free end of the handle, so that even if the base is not secured by screws or other fastening means, it cannot be tilted by downward pressure on the handle.

I claim:

1. A clam opener comprising a base-plate having a longitudinally disposed groove in its upper side constituting a clam-seat, a pivot-post united with said base-plate, and a knife pivoted to said pivot-post and having a considerably bulged cutting edge over the end of the clam seat towards the pivot-post and constructed to enter said groove and meet the hinge of a clam at a theoretical point when the clam-hinge is seated in said end of the clam-seat, a portion of the bulged cutting edge adjacent the pivot being of substantially the same curvature as the bottom of said clam-seat so as to enable the clam hinge to'be severed thereby.

2. The structure defined by claim 1, said knife having a handle disposed at such angle or relation to said cutting edge that it is considerably spaced from said base-plate edge is at the bottom of said clam-seat, said base extending to a point substantially under the free end of said handle so it prevents tilting of the base by downward pressure on the handle.

VERNON R. HALLOCK. 55

when the cutting r 

